Dyeing machine



Apr. 17, 1923. 1,452,129

F. c. w. STELTER DYEING MACHINE Filed June 16 1921 t l i If.

l' atented Apr. i'?, i923;

as and an,

FRANCIS C. W. STEL 'IEIQOF ASTORIA, NEW YORK.

' mznme MACHINE.

Application filed June 16, 1921. Serial No. 78,103v

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANCIS C. W. STEL- rne, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Astoria, Queens County, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dyeing Machines, of which the following is a specification, 7

The present invention relates to machines for dyeing, washing and rinsing of fibrous and other materials, particularly outer garments, hosiery, hats and similar articles.

A well known type of machine for accomplishing these purposes comprises essentially a tank having two parallel spaced elliptical walls in the trough between which the dye liquor is held, and which has a paddle wheel for moving the liquor longitudinally of the elliptical trough so that it circulates in an endless stream. The gar ments to be colored are placed in the dye liquor, usually being contained in fixed baskets through which the liquor runs.

In the present invention the apparatus is designed and constructed to permit the articles to be colored to freely float in the dye liquor and to move continually with the same as it circulates in the elliptical trough. It

. is advantageous to permit the articles to freely float in the dye liquor to secure a thorough exposure of the fibers to the coloring matter but when the articles float in this manner care must be exercised to prevent their catching on the Wall of the tank or being caught by the rotating, stirring or paddle wheel, the blades of which extend downwardly into the liquor and, which if unguarded, frequently engage some floating article and lift it out of the tank, often y A. specially constructed paddle wheel is procausing it to be torn or injured, when of delicate construction. In accordance with the present invention an apparatus is provided in which the advantages of having the work freely float in the dye liquor are realized and in which the disadvantages of the unguarded paddle wheel are obviated.

vided in which the blades are guarded in such manner that, while their stirring action is unimpeded, they are prevented from catchin and injurin any articles contained in the ye liquor. ne embodiment of the invention will be-disclosed in the accompanying drawings and in the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 isa perspective view of the apparatus; and

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly broken away to show the construction of the paddle wheel.

The spaced parallel walls 10 and 11 of the tank are substantially elliptical and the elliptical trough in an endless stream.

The paddle wheel 12 is supported upon a shaft 13 and is adapted to be driven by means of a belt 14- upon the pulley 15, at the desired speed. The paddle wheel has six radially arranged blades of substantially equal size and two parallel disks 16 and 17 are secured to the lateral edges of the radial blades, the disks being coaxial and of equal size and the outer ends of the radial blades terminating substantially along lines extending between the peripheries of the disks.

in the operation of the apparatus the wheel 12 is rotated at the requisite speed and the liquor moves in an endless stream in its elliptical channel, carrying the garments with it. The radial blades repeatedly dipping into the liquor of course engage the articles floating therein but cannot lift them from the tank, the guard disks l6 and 17 effectively preventing the blades from catching any article so as to lift it. The pumping or stirring action of the blades is not' impeded by the guard members but this action goes on as though they were not present.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and. desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a dyeing machine, in combination, a tank comprising spaced parallel inner and outer walls of substantially elliptical form and adapted to hold between them a body of dye liquor containing articles to be dyed, and a paddle wheel for moving the dye liquor and articles floating or contained therein 'in a substantially elliptical path between theyvalls of the tank saidnpaddle WhGGl beingsubstantially half submerged in the liquid and having 'a plurality of radial blades extending from the periphery to the axis of rotation and being provided with a guard to prevent the ends of the blades from catching and tearing the articles in the liquid.

:v 2. In a dyeing machlne, in combination,

a tank comprising spaced parallel inner and outer Walls of substantially elliptica forrn and adapted to hold between thenra body of dye liquor containing articles to be dyed, and a paddle'wheel for moving the dye liquor and articles floatin or contained therein in a substantially elliptical path between the Walls of the tank, said paddle Wheel being substantially half submerged in the liquid and conlpri'sing a plurality of radial blades extending from the periphery to the axis of rotation and having a disc secured to eaeh sic le thereof, the diameter of which is sitbstantially equal to the diameter of the paddle Wheel. 7 A

y In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

FRANCIS o. W. STELTER. 

